Nevada County picayune., 1887-04-20

where 1 found father. mother, sis ters, brothers, and a minister. It was the quarters of an officer of the post, and very comfortably furnished.
 Just outside-we could see them through the window-st0od d spe. cial detail of twelve men, selected as the unwilling executioners of 1 the sentenced man.
 Telling me l should have the last minute before 5 o'clock, but then would have to go, the colonel locked the door and left me with my friends.
 | They had secured the privilege of spending these last few hours with me, knew, to comfort and console, perhaps to strengthen me for the fearful ordeal through which I had to pass. But had to { comfort and console them.
 My father was broken down. It must be a hOrrid strain on fs.th- CTS feelings to sit and look at his son, in the prime of manhood, and count off the few intervening mo- ments of that boys remaining life. Brothers and sisters could only gaze at me in speeches. misery, appalled, by the gloomy shadow of death that was then casting about me.
 I had to become cOnsoler, and strained every nerve, called forth every power to smile. l would not permit the trembling man of God to offer prayer, knowing his words would fall upon those lov- ing ears as death walls, as clods falling on my coffin. Idrew them, by everything could think of, to contemplate anything but my 1 impending doom.
 As would about succeed the little clock on the mantel would strike or a fOo:step on the stair outside or some movement of the garrison would recall them with a sigh to the hOrrid present.
 The little clock on the mantel seemed to me in these intervals to tick so loudly as the chatter of a mill.
 It struck the half-hOurs as well as the full stroke; and it seemed to me it's little whir would buzz and the tiny hammer strike every five minutes. Ten! Half-past! Eleven! Aud half! Twelve! Half! One!
 Heavens! How it ticked off the seconds. gallOped the minutes and startled onr pained ears with those fleeting half-hours!
 We were seated around the room, as close to each other as we could get. Father on one side, mother on the other side of me, a hand clasped by each, as the little monitor on the mantel broke the gathering stiffness with it's metal voice, crying the half hour gone. Just then a step without, hand touched the knob, the key turned in the lock, the door was thrown open, and the Colonel stood look I ing in upon us.
 Instinctively l jumped to my feet, as father and mother sprang to my side, hand upon each shoulder.
 How rapidly thought does its office in such emergencies!
 My thought was, Their dining hour approaches, and these officers wish to get through this unpleasant duty before iinner."
 For a minute-it seemed eterni- ty. and that little clock had ceased to tell the time-we stood, the Colonel and myself, silent, gazing sternly at each other.
 He evidently expected me to speak. But did not, would not. At length he slowly drew from his pocket a slip of paper, and say ing: Captain, have just received this telegram" read, while we gag. ed upon him in strained listening eagerness.
 ssThe execution os the sentence in the case of Capt. William F. Gordon is postponed until further orders. By order of the president" Not one of us spoke.
 "YOu can stay with your friends until 3; then you go back to your cell" he said, as he closed the door and left us hurriedly. Father drew long trembling sigh and sank slowly to the floor where mother had already fallen their support gone. The sudden, r unlocked for lifting of the cloud Ot death, the rush of relief from the horrid nightmare, caused a quick revulsion of feeling that made me limp as rag, weak as a dying babe, and |, too, sank between my parents.
 The minister said something did not hear, brother and sister
 L.. '.